A charging device that includes an alternating current (AC) direct current (DC) adapter and a wireless charger. In one implementation the charging device combines an AC/DC adapter and a wireless charger into a same housing.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. An apparatus, comprising: a housing defining an internal compartment to house power circuitry that converts alternating current (AC) power input to direct current (DC) power output, and a wireless charging component that wirelessly provides power to a first device; an AC cable to connect to a power source and provide the AC power input to the power circuitry; a DC cable to connect to a second. device and provide the DC power output from the power circuitry within the housing to the second device, wherein the second device is external to the apparatus; and a power control circuit to determine when the AC power cable does not provide the AC power input to the power circuitry, and in response, direct the DC power cable to provide DC power input to the power circuitry from a power source associated with the second device.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a charging surface located on a surface of the housing, wherein the wireless charging component wirelessly provides power to the first device via electromagnetic induction when the first device is engaged at the charging surface.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the DC power cable is retractable into the internal compartment.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising,: a universal serial bus (USB) port to provide the DC power output to a third device connected thereto.
5. A charging method, comprising: upon connection of a first device to a charging. device to receive power from the charging device via a DC cable, and when no power input is received by the charging device via an AC cable, transmitting a request for power to the first device: in response to the request, receiving DC power input at the charging device from the first device via the DC cable, wherein receiving the DC power input at the charging device comprises receiving power communicated via the DC cable from a location external to the charging device to a location inside the charging device; and transmitting the received DC power to a wireless charging, component.
6. The charging method of claim 5 , further comprising: wirelessly providing power to a second device via the wireless charging component in response to engagement of the wireless charging component by the second device.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power control circuit is to send a request to the second device for DC power.
8. The charging method of claim 5 , further comprising: providing a first portion of the received DC power to a first wireless device in response to engagement al the wireless charging component by the first wireless device.
9. The charging method of claim 5 , further comprising: providing a second portion of the received DC power to a second wireless device in response to engagement of the wireless charging component by the second wireless device.
10. A charging method, comprising: upon connection of a first device to a charging device to receive power from the charging device via a DC cable, and when no power input is received by the charging device via an AC cable, transmitting a request for power to the first device; in response to the request, receiving DC power input at the charging device from the first device via the DC cable; transmitting the received DC power to a wireless charging component; providing a first portion of the received DC power to a first wireless device in response to engagement of the wireless charging component by the first wireless device; and providing a second portion of the received DC power to a second wireless device in response to engagement of the wireless charging component by the second wireless device.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
April 30, 2012
November 8, 2016
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